Portable bed or the like



May 6, 1930. w. A. MATHEsoN 7 1,757,377

PORTABLE BED OR THE LIKE Filed May 11, 1923 2 sheets-sheet i May 6, 1930.- l w. A. MATHESN 1,757,377

PORTABLE BED OR THE LIKE Filed May l1, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M @QM ff/Q95' f' @g2- 2 f Q Patented May 6, 1930 ITED STATES PATENT WILLIAM A. MATHESON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ROLL-A-WAY BED CORPORATION', OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS PORTABLE BED OR THE LIKE Appiication inea May 11, 192e.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as beds, and relates more particularly to a portable bed which may be conveniently moved about from room to room without disassembling the bed, or which may be folded up so as to occupy a minimum space when the bed is not in use.

The present invention has among its objects the product-ion of a device of the kind described which is simple, convenient, compact, durable, portable, efficient, and which may be easily handled. The invention has particularly as an object the production of an improved truck and a bed frame carried thereby.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be' obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved truck carrying one of my improved folding beds; y

Fig. 2 is a sectional view` taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view tially on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Y Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line l-l of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. l; and

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate modified forms of truck frame section.

Referring to the drawings in which the preferred embodiments of my invention are shown, I `const-ruct a portable truck which consists of the sides 1 1, 2 and 3, the same being of the desired size and of suitable material. As illustrated, the side 3 is inset by bending the same as indicated at 4 and 5 at each side, so that while the casters or suptaken substan- Seral No. 638,180.

ports 6 are spaced a maximum distance apart from the front and back of the frame, the frame itself intermediate the ends is comparatively narrow. In appearance the truck shown is comprised of a pair of opposed J portions, connected together across their longer and shorter legs.

By so constructing the frame, it may be moved through door-ways that are comparatively narrow by merely swinging the truck so as to bring one end through and thence swinging it over to bring the other end through. rlhis is of considerable importance, inasmuch as a wide wheel base between the front and back is obtained, giving stability to the device when the bed is tilted or folded as will be hereinafter described, yet at the same time making it possible to move the bed about as conveniently as if the same was disassembled; and further, provides wide wheel base for operation of bed and preventative means against jack-kniiing when the bed is in horizontal position and under tension of counter-balance springs.

The casters or wheels 6 may be of suitable type, and as shown are mounted on forks 7 which are preferably swiveled to the frame. The particular details of construction of the caster, however, need not be shown herein as generally any caster that will swivel and will roll easily is satisfactory for the purpose. I prefer to use a rubber-tired caster in order to prevent marring the floors, and the same is substantially noiseless.

As most clearly shown in Fig. fl, the frame of the truck is preferably constructed of channel material so as to provide the flanges 8 with the recess Q, in which I mount a rubber, felt or equivalent form of bumper l0. The bumper has two functions. It protects the other furniture in the room, as well as the wood-work in the building, the door frames, etc., from being marred or jammed, and it likewise prevents injury to the bed parts,

as Well as scratching and defa cing the trame of the bed, it being understood that the bed itself is constructed so as to lie entirely within the confines of the truck frame when the bed is tilted to its vertical or inoperative position, as will be hereinafter described.

With the type of bed shown, there is provided a head frame consisting of the posts 11 which may be suitably connected as indicated at 12, the lower ends of the posts 11 being bent in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said posts as indicated at 13, thence extended upwardly as at 14 to provide the front legs of the bed adapted to carry the bed frame. The head frame and legs 14 are secured to the truck frame in any suitable manner as shown, by means of rivets' 15-15, or equivalent means for the purpose. I have shown the head frame as provided with'side bars 15 upon which are mounted hinge orbraclret members 16 which are adapted to be carried by the rod 17, which not only serves as' a pivot for the frame, but also connects the legs 111i, adding strength and rigidity thereto. The particular frame illustrated is provided with a bar or connecting i'nembe'r 18 which extends between and is secured to the frame bars 15, the opposite ends of the bar 15 being connected by a frame 22 or its equivalent.

There is also provided at said last-inentioned end, legs 23 which may be piv'ota'lly secured by a hinge consisting of the parts 24 Vand 25 and pivot pin 26 or the like. The particular hinge' illustrated is the subject matter of a separate application, and therefore need not be described in detail herein, it being obvious that any suitable hinge construction may be employed for the purpose.

The bed frame is substantially counterbalanced to a certain extent by the bar 18, as well as by springs-19 connected` with the brackets 16 and with cooperating members 20-21. The counter-balancing and spring construction is set forth in a companion case, and therefore need not be described in detail herein, it being understood that any equivalent construction may be employed for the purpose.

It will thus be seen from the precedingthat there isV provided a convenient truck frame or bed-carrying frame which may be made o1 the desired size and design and maybe easily and conveniently supported without disasseinbling the bed, and may pass through narrow spaces such as door-ways or the like without injury the bed or woodwork.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate modified forms of cross-sectional shapes for the bumper or truck frame, Fig. 7 showing an angle-iron cross-section 1, Fig. 8 a frame 1 having a concave recess on theY outer wall to receive the bumper 10', and Fig. 9 shows a tubular l ing myself to the exact form, construction,

arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a truck frame having casters thereon, and a 'bed having a headframe rigidly secured thereto, side rails Vand a foot-frame tiltably secured to said headframe so as to lie entirely within the bounding edges of the truck when tilted to its upright position, said truck frame comprising a pair of oppositely facing J-shaped end bar for portions spaced apart, and straight front and rear bar portions connecting the J-shaped end bar portions across theirl upper and shorter legs to forman enclosed ligure, and said head-frame having its ends bent to form e-shaped portions lying parallel to and secured to the longer legs of said J-shaped portions of the truck.

2. ln combination, a roller truck, a bed tiltably carried thereby to swing in a vertical `plane to lie entirely' within the bounding edges of said truck when the bed is in Vits uprightposition, said truck comprising an open continuous frame constructed of channel iron with the channel facing outwardly, and a resilient bumper strip m'ounted in the channel. of the frame, said bumper stri-p extending completely about the frame and projecting beyond the outer face thereof.

3; In combination, a truck comprising an open continuous substantially rectangular shaped frame inchiding end portions and front and rear portions connecting the same, the front side of the frame having an intermediate portion disposed a substantial Ydistance rearwardly of the forward ends of the end portions of the frame, and castor wheels on the frame, and a bed comprising a head frame disposed within the truck frame and rigidly secured thereto, vertically extending portions intermediate the ends of the truck frame disposed withi-n the truck frame and rigidly secured to the end portions thereof, side rails pivo'ted intermediate their ends to said vertically extending'v portions to extend forwardly of the front side of the frame when the bed is in unfolded position, and a foot Y frame and legs carried bythe rails, said rails,

foot frame and legs lying wholly within the bounds of the truck frame when the rails are titled to upright position.

4. In combination, a truck comprising a pair of oppositely facing J-shap'edend bar portions spaced apart, and straight front and rear bar portions respectively connecting the J-shaped end bar portions across their shorter and upper legs to provide an open continuous frame having an intermediate front portion disposed a substantial distance rearwardly of thev forward ends Vof the end portions of the frame, and castor wheels on thetruck frame,

'and a. bed comprising a head frame disposed inwardly of the marginal portion ofV and CTI rigidly secured to the truck frame, vertically extending portions intermediate the end portions of the truck frame disposed inwardly of the marginal portion thereof and rigidly secured to the longer legs of said J-shaped end bar portions, side rails pivoted intermediate their ends to said vertically extending portions to extend forwardly of the front of the frame when the bed is in unfolded position, and a foot frame and legs carried by the rails, said rails, foot frame and legs lying wholly Within the bounds of the truck frame when the rails are tilted to upright position.

5. In combination, a truck comprising an open continuous substantially rectangular shaped frame including end portions and front and rear portions connecting the same, the front side of the frame having an intermediate portion disposed a substantial distance rearwardly of the forward ends of the end portions of the frame, a resilient bumper strip mounted on the frame extending completely about the frame and projecting beyond the outer face thereof, and castor Wheels on the frame, and a bed comprising a head frame disposed Within the truck frame and rigidly secured thereto, vertically extending portions intermediate the ends of the truck frame disposed Within the truck frame and rigidly secured to the end portions thereof, side rails pivoted intermediate their ends to said vertically extending portions to extend forwardly of the front side of the frame when the bed is in unfolded position, and a foot frame and legs carried by the rails, said rails, foot frame and legs lying Wholly Within the bounds of the truck frame when the rails are tilted to upright position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM A, MATI-IESON. 

